Zero POV

I could sense her anguish even before we entered the grounds of the Kuran mansion.

My little Phoenix, how your powers have grown. I thought to myself upon seeing the trail of flames on the meadow.

As we neared the mansion, I felt myself grow anxious to get out of the limo we rode in.

"What's wrong, Zero?" Cross asked from beside me.

"Nothing." I replied curtly, looking out the window, rubbing the back of my neck.

We were only a hundred yards away from the mansion now and my anxiety was starting to become unbearable.

After what seemed like forever, the limo parked and I jumped out.

"Zero! Where are you going?"

I ignored Cross and followed the trail of flames to her.

Her anguish was growing more and more and I needed to get to her.

I took off at vampiric speed, being grateful for the first time that Shizuka had changed me.

It took me no time to find her. She sat in the middle of the meadow, silver flames surrounding her and burning brightly.

Sensing my presence, she lifted her eyes to mine.

Violet orbs appearing as if on fire stared back at me.

Phoenix POV

I cried, my tears turning to flames as they hit the ground.

I looked all around and saw flames surrounding me.

It felt good to release my inner fire, but once I did, I found it very hard to extinguish the flames.

I wasn't sure why I was so upset, but for some reason, I couldn't control my emotions that day. They just came flooding out with my flames, reflecting the inner turmoil I felt.

I kept crying, releasing my fire more and more when I sensed someone enter the meadow.

I lifted my head to see a handsome young man with silver hair and lavender eyes that seemed to peer into my soul.

"Phoenix..." The man whispered.

Visions of the man played through my mind, igniting something buried deep within.

I saw him whispering into my ear and kissing my neck, causing shivers to go down my back. Another scene flashed in my mind of the man and myself staring at a night sky. Yet another one showed of the two of us running through a forest, hand in hand, being chased. The visions stopped with me bursting into flames and then turning to ash.

I stared at the man in the present, wondering who he was.

"Who are you?" I demanded, standing to my feet.

I suddenly realized my fire had finally extinguished.

"You don't remember me?" The man whispered aloud.

"I've never met you! How could I possibly remember a stranger?" I shouted. I wasn't about to admit to a complete stranger that I just saw visions of him. "You better tell me who you are, buddy boy or I'll release my fire on you!"

The young man began chuckling loudly, holding his stomach from laughing so hard.

"My little Phoenix, you always were a feisty one."

Without hesitation, I released my fire at him, the ground behind me blowing up into an explosion.

Kaname POV

An explosion was heard outside, causing all of my comrades and myself to rush out to the meadow.

The sight we saw, had me suddenly chuckling uncontrollably.

Zero Kiryu lay on the ground, his shirt scorched and falling open, with Phoenix standing over him, silver flames flowing in her palm.

"Zero?!" Yuki gasped upon seeing her old friend's predicament.

I gently grabbed her arm and stopped her from running forward.

"It'd be best to not cause yourself any harm, my dear Yuki. Our Phoenix can be very unforgiving when she's upset like this."

Yuki looked up at me with those doe eyes, but nodded her head in understanding.

"Kuran, why is my son being tortured by your adoptive sister?" Kaien Cross started to rush forward like Yuki had, but instantly ran back when Phoenix sent a fiery glare his way.

"Zero, are you alright?" Yuki asked her friend from afar, concern written all over her face.

Kiryu stood to his feet slowly, avoiding Phoenix's flames.

"I'm fine. It's not the first time I've been burned." He wiped the ash off his pants and tossed his ruined shirt aside on the ground.

"I did not say you could get up!" Phoenix tackled Kiryu to the ground, moving her flaming hand very close to his face.

What happened next, had all of us staring in amazement.

In one quick movement, Kiryu had their positions switched, with him on top of Phoenix. He pressed his lips against hers fiercely, the ground around them igniting brightly.